Rice hulling and polishing machine.



R. W. WELCH.

RICE HULLING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13,19|5- Patented J an. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ianuwnlioz COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

R. w. WELCH. RICE HULLING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. 1 915.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.,WASHINGTON. D. c.

'tmfrrnn earns na 1' ROSIA W. WELCH, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 JOHN H. WINDFELDER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

RICE HULLING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11,1916.

Application filed. February 13, 1915. Serial No. 8,013.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RosiA WV. VVELGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rice Hulling and Polishing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in machines for decorticating and polishing rice or other grain and relates particularly to a machine of this character wherein the outer casing is contractible and expansible so as to vary the annular space between the same and the revoluble drum or drums contained therein, whereby the one machine will be equally applicable for use in connection with grains of varying size, and the machine susceptible of being easily adjusted according to the particular requirements of the case.

The invention has for its primary object a simple, durable and efficient construction of machine of this character, the parts of which are so constructed and arranged that the adjustment may be very expeditiously effected and with a minimum amount of effort, and whereby the parts will, by their inherent construction and arrangement, be maintained at the required adjustment without the necessity of cumbersome or complicated fastening or looking devices.

A further object of the invention is a machine of this type in which any desired number of drums may be included, arranged in superposed relation to each -other,'tlie machine also embodying a sectional casing inwhich there are a series of sections surrounding each drum, means being provided whereby all of the sections, for the entire set of drums, may be simultaneously and easily operated by manipulating a single element near the bottom or any other predetermined portion of the machine.

The invention has for a still further object a machine of this character in which the mass of grain, as it passes from one drum to the next adjacent drum below, is deflected inwardly or contracted by deflectors which not only serve the purpose of contracting the mass of grain, but also serve the additional function of guiding supports for the casing sections. And the invention also aims to generally improve machines of this type soas to render them more useful and commercially desirable.

lVith these and other objects in View, as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

v For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in

which Figure l tional view of a decorticating and polishing machine constructed in accordance with my invention and embodying the principles thereof. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the machine. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. i is a similar view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of the machine. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the casing sections detached.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in all of the views of the accompanying drawings by like reference characters. The framework of my improved machine for decorticating and polishing rice or other grain, may be-of any desired or preferred construction, as judgment or taste may dictate, and in the present instance is shown as embodying a base 1, any desired number of uprights or posts 2, and a top 3, the latter supporting a hopper or feed spout 4: which may be of any desired size and construction. Disposed centrally within the framework is a vertical shaft 5, the same being preferably journaled at its upperend in a bearing 6 and mounted at its lower endin a step hearing 7 on the base 1.

8 designates the. shaft, around which a belt (not shown) is intended to pass so as to connect same with any suitable source of power.

Mounted on the shaft 5 and revoluble therewith, are any desired number of drums 9, the same being preferably cylindrical, as

driving pulley for the is a vertical longitudinal sec-v shown, and being arranged in superposed relation to each other. Each of these drums is shown as comprising upper and lower heads 10 and a body portion 11 connected thereto, said body portion being in the pres,- ent instance shown as formed by woven wire fabric, although it is to be understood that any other substances may be used, according to the requirements of the case, as will be hereinafter more fully explained at the close of the specification.

The drums 9 are spaced from each other, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, and in the spaces between the drums, deflectors 12 are mounted, said deflectors being in the form of rings, as clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings with downwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces 13. These deflectors are secured in any desired way to the posts 2 of the framework.

The enveloping casing for the series of drums 9 is made up in sections with a plurality of sections for each drum, and one of these sections is shown in detail in Fig. 6, the same being designated 14 as a whole. Each of these sections comprises a box-like frame 15 of any desired height and width, and a grain treating portion 16 which is concave to conform to the body portion 11 of the drum, and, like the drum, formed of any material, according to the requirements of the case, woven wire being indicated in the present instance. The sections 14,- of the casing are designed to be moved inwardly and outwardly soas to expand or contract the entire casing in order to increase or decrease the space between the same and the peripheries of the drums, and said sections are preferably supported in their movements indirectly on the deflectors 12 and directly upon anti-friction devices (such as the rollers 17 carried thereby).

In order to move the sections 14 inwardly or'outwardly, the tops and bottoms of the frames 15 are formed with oblique slots 18, said slots being arranged in pairs in the present instance, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this or to any other number. Vertically disposedactuating rods 19 pass bodily through the slots 18, and also through circumferentially disposed guiding slots 20 formed in the deflectors '12, the entire series of rods being connected at their upper ends to a horizontally disposed ring 21 mounted for revoluble movement at the upper end of the casing and retained or guided by brackets 22, the lower ends of said rods being similarly connected to a horizontally disposed ring 23 mounted for revoluble movement at the. bottom of the casing and suspended in place by angular brackets 24, (see Fig. 2).

The lower ring 23 has an outstanding handle 2% connected to it and hence it will be understood that when it is desired to move the sections 14 inwardly or outwardly, it is only necessary for the operator to grasp the ban dle 24k and move it in the required direction, whereupon the entire series of rods will move circumferentially in the slots 20 formed in the deflectors 12, and the entire series or plurality of easing sections 14: will be moved in and out through the instrumentality of the rods working in the oblique slots 18. In order to close up any gap between the sides of the section 14, I provide extension flaps 25, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, and in order to retain and guide the sec.- tions, 1 secure to the deflectors 12 obliquely disposed angular guide plates 26.

From as much of the description as has preceded in connection with the correlated views of the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that whenever it is desired to expand or contract the casing, it is only necessary for the operator to grasp the han- (lle 2st and move the rings 21 and 23 and the rods connected thereto, to the right or to the left, as the case may be, the casing sections 14 thereby being moved in and out. In View of the construction and arrangement of the parts, they will maintain themselves in their adjusted position and no locking devices of any kind are necessary.

The shaft 5 i hollow, as shown, and is formed with any desired number of apertures or orifices 28. and a fan 29 is mounted" at the top of the shaft as best illustrated 111 F 1g. 1, whereby a current of air may be passed downwardly into the shaft and out through the orifices 28 so as to flow outwardly through the grain, as it passes from the receiving or feed end of the machine to the discharge spout at the lower end thereof.

Preferably the spaces between the drums 9 contain annular shields or rims 30 within the circles of the deflectors 1 so as to prevent the grain from being deflected too far inwardly.

It will thus be seen that I have invented a very simple, durable and eiiicient construction of grain treating machine, the same being designed particularly for use in connection with rice, although equally applicable for use in connection with other grain, in

which, the sections of the casing may be simultaneously moved in and out in order' to decrease or increase the space between the may be made in the construction. arrange merit and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For ex ample, I have indicated that while the present embodiment of the machine is intended to polish the grain, and for that purpose the peripheries or body portions of the drums 9 and the grain treating surfaces of the casing section 14 are formed of woven wire fabric, yet these surfaces or portions will have substituted for them other material or substances well known to the milling art, if the machine is to be used as a decorticator instead of a polisher; and hence so far as the features that relate to the contraction and expansion of the casing and their concomitant parts, are concerned, the following claims are to be construed as broad enough to cover not only the polishing machine, but a decorticating machine as well.

Preferably, a number of depending fingers 31 are secured to the lower surface of the top 3. Under certain conditions, the centrifugal action induced by the rapidly rotating shaft and the drums that it carries, will cause the rice or other grain to form a whirling ring immediately underneath the top 3, and retard the desired downward flow; but by providing these depending fingers 31, this will be broken up and the fingers will serve to effectually cause the grain to move downwardly through the machine and produce the desired action. It is to be further understood that when the machine is used as a polisher, the opposing surfaces of the casing and drum peripheries will be sinuous in horizontal section whereby the grains of rice will'be intermittingly crowded together when high surface meets high surface and the best results secured.

What I claim is:

1. A machine of the character described, including a revoluble member and a contractible and expansible casing enveloping the same, said casing embodying a plurality of sections provided with oblique slots, rods receivable in said slots, and means for moving said rods whereby the sections will be simultaneously moved inward or outward.

2. A machine of the character described, including a revoluble member and a sectional casing enveloping the same, supports for the casing section, said supports being formed with circumferentially disposed slots extending therethrough, and the casing sections being formed with oblique slots, rods mounted in the circumferential and oblique slots, the rods being connected together, and means for moving said rods simultaneously whereby the sections will be moved in and out.

3. A machine of the character described, including a revoluble member and a casing enveloping the same, said casing comprising a plurality of sections formed at the top and bottom with oblique slots, supports for said sections provided with circumferential slots, rods passing through the oblique and circumferential slots, and rings mounted for a partial revoluble movement and connecting said rods together, whereby to move the casing sections in'and out.v 1

4. A machine of the character described, comprising a framework, a shaft journaled therein, a plurality of drums carried by said shaft and spaced from one another, rings secured to the framework in the spaces between said drums, said rings being formed with circumferentially disposed slots, and a casing enveloping said drums, said casing comprising sections movably supported upon the rings, said sections being formed with oblique slots, rods passing through said circumferential and oblique slots, and means for simultaneously moving said rods whereby to move the casing sections in and out, toward and away from the drums.

5. A machine of the character described, including a supporting framework, a shaft revolubly mounted therein, a plurality of drums carried by said shaft and in spaced relation to each other, deflecting rings supported by the framework and extending into the spaces between the drums, said rings being formed with circumferential slots and a casing enveloping said drums and formed in sections surrounding the respective drums, said sections being supported and,

guided on said rings and formed in their tops and bottoms with oblique slots, rods passing through the circumferential and oblique slots, rings connecting the upper ends of said rods together and also the lower ends thereof, and supports for said rings on which the rings are adapted for a partial revoluble movement whereby the casing sections may be moved toward and away from the drums.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising a framework, a shaft revolubly mounted therein, a plurality of drums carried by said shaft in spaced relation to each other, stationary rings carried by the framework and extending into the spaces between the drums, an enveloping casing embodying a plurality of sections surrounding each drum, said sections each consisting of a box like frame and a substantially concave grain treating portion, said box-like frames being formed in their tops and bottoms with obliquely disposed slots, the rings being formed with circumferentially disposed slots extending therethrough and registering with the said oblique slots, the box-like frames being directly supported to slide upon said rings, vertically disposed rods as I. ,16

passing through the circumferential and like frame, whereby to guide the latter in 10 oblique slots, rlngsconnectlng sald rods totheir movements.

gether at the top and bottom and designed In testimony whereof I affix my signature for a partial reyoluble movement whereby in presence of two witnesses. all of the rods wlll be simultaneously turned ROSIA 7. VVELCIL to the right or to the left, to move the sections radially, and obliquely disposed l/Vitnesses:

angular guide plates secured to the first ALFRED C. HATCH, named rings on opposite sides of the box- HENRY R. HALL, Jr.

Cnpies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing; the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). C. 

